A Bradley shakeup?

After Bradley got waxed by Butler on Wednesday night, I was out in the hallway, talking to Butler coach Brad Stevens about some of the underpinnings of his program. I had spent halftime discussing the same issue with Butler athletics director Barry Collier, who is now the athletics director. Those interviews and some of my observations from the game resulted in this column. With a very short time frame to meet newspaper deadlines, there were a couple of things that got left out. And because I was in the hallway talking to Stevens, I missed most of the Q&A with Bradley coach Jim Les. My colleague, Bradley beat reporter Dave Reynolds, caught me up on the ride home. Now that I’ve had a chance to read his story and see Les’s comments, here’s the first one that jumped at me:

“These kids (meaning the Bradley players) are treated awfully well by Bradley, our program, our fans and our supporters …” Les said. “Maybe some privileges need to be taken away so there’s an appreciation.”

And here’s why it jumped at me. When I asked Collier what the keys were to what Butler has built, he outlined several things, one of which was the kids they recruit. The coaches realize that, generally, the big-time recruits aren’t going to choose Butler, but there are lots of good players available who know they can compete at the top level. Butler looks for those, because they have something to prove. But they also look for kids, Collier said, “who appreciate the opportunity we give them at Butler.”

Now, I’m not saying the Bradley kids don’t appreciate the opportunity they’ve been given. And I’m not criticizing the job Les has done recruiting. I just found the independent usage of the same word—and how it relates to basketball success, or lack thereof—very interesting.

Les, obviously, was fed up during and after this game. For the last several minutes, while Bradley still had a chance—though not a likelihood—to get back into the game, Bradley’s lineup on the floor was four freshmen (Eddren McCain, Darian Norris, Taylor Brown and Anthony Thompson) and sophomore Sam Maniscalco. Notably missing were starters Theron Wilson, Chris Roberts, David Collins and Dodie Dunson.

The last time I saw Les in this mode and vowing shakeups after a game was after the home debacle against Wichita State in January 2006. After that embarrassing loss, the starting lineup was thrown up for grabs. Senior co-captain Marcellus Sommerville was benched for a time. And Bradley turned around its season and wound up in the Sweet 16.

I’m not predicting such a turnaround this time. But it will be interesting to see who responds and who doesn’t, and to what degree Les will follow through on his vow.

One last note. On Wednesday at the Gameday Luncheon, Les talked about how well his players had responded in practice Monday and Tuesday, after their second-half flop in the Sunday loss at Michigan State. It has been a common recitation for the coach to praise the energy and enthusiasm of his guys in practice. But Wednesday night, after getting drilled by Butler, Les said this: “My expectations are a lot higher, not in terms of outcome, but in terms of the energy, effort and enthusiasm they need to put out.”

Something here doesn’t add up.

Author: Kirk Wessler

Kirk Wessler is executive sports editor/columnist and has worked at the Journal Star since 1987. A graduate of Bradley University, he previously worked at the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune and Dallas Times-Herald. Wessler's work has won numerous awards from Associated Press Sports Editors, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, Illinois Press Association and Illinois Associated Press. He is former president of the USBWA. Follow him on Twitter @KirkWessler.
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One thought on “A Bradley shakeup?”

I don’t understand recruiting. What happened to Bill Cole? Isn”t he a good player? Would he be good enough to play for Bradley? Did Bradley recruit Him? Why do coaches recruit players and go on and on telling the press how fabulous they are and what a coup it was to get them and then they don’t play? Do coaches lie to get practice players?